TEHRAN – The Iranian art of embroidery, Monjugh-Douzi, has long been applied to ornate garments, headwear, bags, decorative pictures, pencil holders, stamp or brush cases, belts and to necklaces to name a few. Monjugh-Duzi is the art of sewing Mojugh beads onto fabrics.
Experts believe that the skill of delicate craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
According to Visit Iran, there are historical documents and evidence that proves that this art was very popular in the Achaemenid and Sassanian times.
At that time, floor coverings and clothing were adorned by the Monjughs, however, this was a custom specific to aristocrats.
Gradually, the material of making Monjugh changed from gems to glass and they became a craft practiced and used by common people.
The first step is to pass the beads through the thread using a needle and then sew them onto the fabric according to the pattern. There are many designs and patterns that can be applied to Monjugh-Duzi such as “Gol o Morgh” (flower and bird), “Gol o Buteh” (flower and bush), kinds of paisley, birds, animals, hunting grounds, geometric, trees, cypresses, arabesques, “Toranji” and “Sar Toranji”, “Sar Lachaki”, “Shamsehee”, “Bazubandi”, “Band Rumi”, “Shah Abbasi”, knots, Kelim patterns , holy names, etc.
Monjughs are regularly sewn onto thick silk, satin and other shiny fabrics in various colors, and in styles such as “Khati” or linear, “Tupor” where the pattern is filled in by Monjugh, “Bast-Duzi “, “Cobareh-Duzi” and “Barjesteh-Duzi” or embossed. Sometimes it is used with other embroideries like “Gheytan-Duzi” which is done with heavy thread, or with silk thread, sequins , pearls and filigree.
Tiny beads being sewn onto clothes and other textiles, Monjughs became very popular in the late 20th century during the Qajar era. Some of Monjugh-Duzi’s valuable and elaborate pieces from this era are kept in the Museum of Decorative Arts of Iran and can be visited.
AFM
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